Johnson County County Manager's Office

About Johnson County, Kansas

Information and History
Johnson County began the 20th century with about 18,000 people. It grew slowly until World War II, reaching a population of about 33,000 by 1940. After the war, suburban expansion quadrupled the population so that by 1960 over 143,000 people lived in the County. As of the 2000 census, Johnson County is home to 530,000 individuals.

Created in 1855 and organized in 1857, Johnson County was one of the first 33 counties in Kansas. Located near the twin cities of Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri, it contains 477 square miles, or 307,200 acres. Since the original establishment of the Shawnee Methodist Mission in 1839, Johnson County has developed into a complex mixture of urban and rural areas.

County government was established in Kansas to carry out state prescribed functions at the local level; that is, to act as an administrative agent for the state in such matters as tax assessment and collection, registration of motor vehicles, and record keeping. Also, as a local government, the County has assumed responsibility for provision of a wide variety of local services such as roads, public safety, health, environment, parks and recreation, planning and zoning, airports, library and civil defense.

The seven-member Board of County Commissioners is Johnson County's chief governing and policy-making body. County Commissioners are elected to four-year terms by the residents in districts that are roughly equal in population.

There are over 40 departments, offices and agencies and more than 4,000 employees in Johnson County Government. Together they provide a variety of services.

The Library provides information services through nine branches. The Library's collection is accessible through a computerized circulation system and includes more than 800,000 books; 3,000 periodicals; and 8,000 audiovisual items including videotapes.

The Museum system operates the County Historical Museum in Shawnee and the Lanesfield School Historic Site near Gardner.

The Archives and Records Management Department maintains a repository for the storage and preservation of historical documents while assisting in the regulation of active records.

Parks and Recreation maintains 5,000 acres of parkland, including a countywide streamway park system, and offers more than 4,000 fee-supported recreation programs annually. Special areas and events include Tomahawk Hills Recreational Complex and Golf Course, Heritage and Shawnee Mission Park's marinas, and the annual Theatre in the Park show season.

The Midcentury Air Center is the County government's major economic, industrial and general aviation development agency.

The Office of Planning Development Codes provides countywide studies, urban development forecasts, and geographic information, as well as administering the zoning and planning for the unincorporated area.

JOHNSON COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE
111 S. Cherry St., Suite 3300
Olathe, KS 66061-3468
(913) 715-0725